Gina and Jenny helped us with a property renovation and sale. They are mostly professional but we…read morefelt we did not have enough of their time and attention, and notable mistakes were made as a result. They have much larger properties and bigger commissions that clearly dominate their time over smaller properties. They also don't know urban property markets nearly as well as suburban, including those local city property laws. Lastly, beware of the vendors they choose to renovate your place - we are still dealing with shoddy materials and downright neglect that was evident in the renovation - had to replace two major appliances recently because of it. TLDR - If you have their attention (magnitude of sale) then you will probably have a great experience. If not, then you had better be on top of everything.

Gina counseled us to list our Burlingame Easton Addition home for $3,068,000 and it sold for $2.4…read moremillion--- $668,000 less than asking--- after almost 4 excruciating months on the market. Yes, interest rates were rising, but that big of a difference? The listing price should have been lower. Two of our neighbors said they saw people come to see the open houses and a few times, no one was there. Gina is a very affable person, but the whole experience was very hard. At the end of the day, you sell your home to make money. Her comps and pricing advice were just wrong. As a final footnote, after the sale she said she was sending us a gift and it never arrived.

I contacted Casey Sternsmith and Tess Salter to help me sell two homes while going through a…read moreviolatile high conflict divorce. My ex is incredibly stubborn and challenging to deal with. Both Casey and Tess were incredibly professional to deal with, highly responsive to my needs and managed to sell both homes for more than 20 percent over the asking price with each close of escrow taking around 10 days. Tess and Casey were patient and thoughtful in walking me through the whole process from necessary repairs, to staging and painting. Amazing job ladies and thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Thanks in large part to Casey, my partner and I are now first time homeowners, after we won the…read morefirst offer we made this year. Casey's familiarity of the nuances of the local neighborhoods in San Mateo county helped me and my partner focus our search to areas that were particularly desirable for us. Her deep knowledge of the home-buying process, and how she held our hands throughout the offer and closing process, brought clarity, confidence, transparency and to what could have an otherwise very overwhelming process. Her upbeat energy, firm guidance, and insight has made her a pleasure to work with - she even surprised us by letting us know in person with a bottle of champagne that we won the bid, a joyful experience we'll never forget. Casey's team was helpful as well - both in clear communication about completing the dozens of documents during closing (mostly remotely, which was convenient due to COVID-19) and doing the final walk through with us. After purchasing our home, Casey has been helpfully hands-on when we've requested referrals and expert advice as we are in the process of renovating part of the home. She even met me at a store to help look at supplies, and met with contractors on our behalf to get bids for the work. I appreciate that she offers valuable insight when we ask for it, is thorough in her follow up, and I feel that she genuinely is most concerned for our happiness and well-being. As a bonus, I also love that the Sternsmith Group is an all-women team!

Cheryl is an honest, thorough, and dependable agent. She helped us through all of the processes and…read morereally made sure we understood how everything worked. She did an amazing job knowing when to schedule inspections and was always able to pull these off with very little notice. These often were 100% essential in finding extremely important deal breakers - like a house that looked like it had a good foundation, but in reality was about to fall off the cliff! She has been invaluable as a guide and sounding board for house projects and contractor recommendations. Another aspect that I appreciated about Cheryl is that I never felt like we were pressured into placing any offer that we were not comfortable with. She did a wonderful job educating us whenever we had questions and when we wrote an offer it always felt right. I am also very appreciative with Cheryl's patience with us. We weren't in a rush and we have strange tastes. Cheryl continued to work with us and allowed us to wait for the perfect home.

I am SO happy to give this unsolicited review for Cheryl. Cheryl helped a close family member close…read moreescrow in the city. That is no small feat considering the seller's market and inflation skyrocketing. Upon meeting her, it was like love at first sight...like agent-to-home-buyer kinda love! All the stars were in alignment. She pitched her business and most importantly she *ASKED* for the business and didn't assume you were going to go with her. She's a solid, knowledgeable agent. Certifications galore and has high integrity. I personally was there when my family member vetted properties. Trust me, I was extremely honest and brutal while vetting each property and she showed everything we asked for and was so kind throughout everything. She was always on time and quick. My family member had been working with an agent that was not diligent because that agent wanted to close escrow on luxury condos. Well, let me say that HE missed out on this sale. My family member got Cheryl and literally not even in a blink of eye, he closed escrow within *months* as a first time home buyer. THAT is simply IMPRESSIVE and speaks volumes. I am honored to know Cheryl. She not only helps with closing the sale, she is CONNECTED with local businesses, honest workers if you need help repairing your home. HIGHLY RECOMMEND this agent for ALL areas of the the San Francisco Bay Area. She is top notch. She is diligent, friendly and does everything with a smile. She is there and takes you through. Cheryl: you deserve this review and I am so happy that my family member found YOU. You are a rare gem and if I ever find myself in the position of purchasing a home in the city, I know you have my back.

Nick was recommended to us by our last realtor (Deborah Nguyen at Compass--she's fantastic!)…read morebecause she only works in the city and we were looking to buy in the peninsula. Nick's knowledge of the peninsula was extensive and he was wonderful to work with. Here's why: 1) The Nick Algorithm -- We didn't really know what we wanted in a house, but we knew what we didn't want. Nick picked GREAT properties for us to visit in different cities in the peninsula and asked us what we liked and didn't like about each. This helped to feed The Nick Algorithm so he could get a better understanding of what we were looking for. (This process helped us, too, understand what we wanted!) After every property we visited, he really started to hone in on what we wanted and we were able to get much more serious about which properties we saw and the buying process in general. 2) Super patient and approachable style -- As first time home buyers, we had a LOT of questions. Nick answered them all thoroughly every time. We also texted/called him a bunch (at some points in the process, we were talking multiple times a day) and he never made us feel like we were a bother. His goal was to help us through every single stage of the home buying process (including getting our loan), which was so appreciated. After we closed on the house, I actually started to miss talking to him every day, haha! 3) HGTV-depth of knowledge -- Nick knows his peninsula neighborhoods and also about home design. He helped us narrow down to the exact city perfect for us. Also, every time we visited a new property, he would give advice on how we could update the home to have it better fit our lifestyle. He knew when to say "this is something I think you can change" and "this house is probably too big of a project for you" based on our personalities. And he was spot on. Looking back, I'm so glad we didn't pick any of the bigger fixer uppers. 4) Well-connected -- After we closed on the house, we made a prioritized list of updates/renovations we wanted to complete before moving in. Nick helped to coordinate getting vendors out to the house, meeting them there to show them what work we wanted done, and getting quotes for us. This was so helpful and felt above and beyond! The house we ended up in is our dream house. And a large part of that is due to Nick's help!

We had a fantastic experience working with Nick. Before officially working with him, we had several…read moreconversations, which started with us calling to inquire about a property he was helping to sell then progressed to him providing thoughtful insights into the Bay Area housing market as we were moving into the area not having been and knowing much about it. He did this without any pressure or expectation of representing us, which spoke volumes about his professionalism and genuine approach to helping people. When it came time to seriously pursue a home, we quickly realized how important it is to have an experienced, detail-oriented realtor on your side. Nick's expertise was invaluable, particularly in navigating the complexities of a relocation loan/supplemental loan by our employer (Stanford) -- something he had clear experience with and handled smoothly. His knowledge and skill in both financing nuances and communication gave us confidence at every step. It was also clear that he was skilled at competitive negotiations, and Nick helped us secure a home that was a perfect fit for our needs. Beyond his expertise, he stands out for how much he truly cares about his clients. He is patient, strategic, and consistently advocated for our best interests. We couldn't recommend Nick more highly.

Cheri Cerna is the real estate agent most of dream about - she's 100% focused on ensuring her…read moreclient's objectives are fulfilled, and she also knows how to diplomatically give guidance to keep our (the client's) goals realistic! My spouse and I met Cheri at one of her Open Houses (over 10 years ago now) and we quickly fell for her perfect balance of "easy going on the surface" but "all business underneath"... in the end, she's all about the client's goals. We have completed 7+ transactions with Cheri... all have been executed flawlessly (well, we made an error or two, but Cheri was always able to correct!) We cannot rate Cheri highly enough. She knows San Mateo, and all of the agents in the area, better than anyone else we have met. And she's become a friend as well. Thank you Cheri!

Cheri has been my realtor for more than 20 years, twice as a buyers agent and once as sellers…read moreagent. Cheri has a solid knowledge of the area and I appreciated all her advice and direction. She goes above and beyond and makes you feel that you are her only client. Full spectrum service and five stars. Thank you Cheri for all your guidance and for caring about every detail.

Working with Stephanie at Palermo Properties was a fantastic experience from start to finish…read more Stephanie went above and beyond--she was always available, even while on vacation with a 9-hour time difference. She continued to have weekly calls, followed up with vendors and colleges to ensure everything went smoothly while she was away. Her dedication to the sale of our home in Montara made the process smooth and successful. She helped with everything from finding trustworthy vendors, assisting in obtaining proposals for work needed on the home, and giving advice on what was needed to ascertain the best sale price and ensure our home shined prior to listing. Once vendors were selected, she even met them to ensure the work was top notch. Thanks to her strategic preparation and networking, we received an offer at asking price the day before the home even hit the MLS! Her professionalism, attention to detail, and genuine care for her clients really set her apart. If you're looking for a hardworking, responsive, and knowledgeable realtor, Stephanie and her team are the people you want in your corner. Highly recommended!

I wish I could articulate what a brilliant and hard-working agent Stephanie is. There was never…read moreever a moment where my partner or I felt like we had to chase her down for attention with our search, help and clarification about any matter, or information regarding any part of the home-buying process. Even when she's working with other clients, she really makes one feel like she is there for you 24/7. It made us feel like we had a weapon at our disposal. In the end, our story in buying our first home (which is seemingly unbelievable and magical in some way) feels like it wouldn't have been possible without Stephanie next to us. I would not think twice about reccommending her to anyone seeking a professional, intelligent, honest, awesome, sweet, and simply bad-ass real estate agent.

We met Ngan La at one of her open houses. During that time we were interviewing agents and after…read morespeaking with her, I immediately knew we didn't need to meet with anyone else. That turned out to be one of the best decisions we made during our home-buying journey. She was incredibly patient with us as we toured what felt like countless homes, never once making us feel rushed or pressured. She was always prompt with answers and helped us understand each property clearly. Just when we were ready to give up, we found the one. What stood out most was how she handled the important moments with the right sense of urgency while still making us feel supported and informed. Even after closing, she continued to check in and offer help. We truly couldn't have asked for a better agent and are so grateful to have worked with her.

Ngan La (pronounced Young), was truly a master of her craft. She is professional, knowledgeable and…read morededicated in representing her clients. I purchased my first home with zero hiccups; despite unreasonable demands from the seller, Young and her team made the purchase happen without any compromise to my needs. Thanks to her and her team, I truly feel I have found a home for my family. If you need a realtor that'll have you back Young is the one to work with.

I can't say enough about Silvia Martinelli. I sold my condo in Foster City in June 2009 after only…read more3 open houses and it sold for only $5,000 below my asking price of $520K at the time. At the time of my condo sale, there was another condo in the complex asking for $525K for a 3/2 and mine was a 2/2. I felt what made a difference was that my place was a lot nicer to begin with, but it was really Silvia's belief that my place would sell and she did everything possible to make that happen. She is very organized, detail-oriented, kept me updated as much as I needed her to, and she took care of everything. I was very thorough during my search for the perfect agent -- I interviewed 6 other agents. The first time I spoke with Silvia, my intuition told me to go with her because of her friendliness, professionalism, honesty, and she believed my place was as nice as I did. The other agents told me that my place was nice, but that we needed to focus on the trend of the market and that if we don't want it to sit on the market for a very long time, the most I could ask for was $490K. Silvia was different. She performed a thorough market analysis, but she was very good about allowing me to be the decision maker. I feel she is very good about accommodating to my personality and my personal needs. And she never doubted that my place would sell for the price that I listed for. This is the type of agent you want on your side because she will present your place and if she didn't believe in the price I think others would've picked up on it. Anyway, when I said she took care of everything... I mean she took care of everything -- from the beginning to end!! Starting with the cleaning crew, helping me hire painters, she hired wonderful stagers, having effective marketing materials, to having the cleaning crew there when I moved out, etc., etc. She even had her husband help me move my heavy entertainment center from the living room to the 2nd bedroom. I believe she went above and beyond the call of duty and that says a lot to me. She is dedicated, kind, professional, personable, and a world class, caring person. I truly believe that my place sold for the price that I was willing to settle with because of Silvia. She is an awesome agent and I tell my friends about her all the time. I hope that her company continues to thrive and wish nothing but wonderful things to flow in her direction.

Realty World Martinelli Properties is one of the best companies with some of the best agents in the…read morearea for that matter. Sylvia, the owner/head agent, is very nice; she takes the time to go over everything with you, lines up necessary contractors for sprucing up and inspecting your property, and just plain leaves nothing to chance. We sold our home in Redwood Shores and are now proud owners of a spacious three bedroom two bathroom condo in Foster City. Marisa the mortgage broker: Very honest, upfront, and plain diligent in expediting the mortgage end of things and working with Fidelity Title Company (see my review.) Carlos, the carpenter: A very nice guy who is the "Jack of all trades," he installed a new fan in the master bathroom, new expansion joints on our walkway, new drapes, braced our water heater, and installed a few baseboards in the master bedroom. Cesar, Pedro, and Arturo Corona; the painters: They did a very good job with the exception of a few paint drips here and there and some left over wallpaper that was painted over. They diligently and quickly got the entire inside of our house painted with with Kelly-Moore and our deck stained with Cabbet Stain. They did a good job of fixing up our downstairs bathroom which was done sloppily by a friend of our previous painter (see my review.) Marco, the grannet guy: He did a thorough job in installing and sealing our new grannet countertops and backsplashes, leaving nothing to chance and even cut a special piece for behind our sink. He also installed a new stainless steel sink which compliments it all the more. William, the home inspector: He had a sense of humor and was very thorough in evaluating the house, finding only a few minor problems that we took care of. Once again, kudos to Sylvia for her thorough knowledge, help, referrals, and expediting the process; making it pleasant and smooth. So, for an excellent agent filled with vast knowledge and excellent partners, Sylvia and Realty World Martinelli Properties for that matter cannot be beat. Keep up the good work guys.!